Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PARIS406
2009-03-19 17:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
FRENCH RESPONSE ON DOWNSIZING KFOR
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHFR #0406 0781750 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 191750Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5814 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000406
SIPDIS
EUR/RPM CHRIS DAVY AND EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2019
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR NATO FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE ON DOWNSIZING KFOR
REF: STATE 26179
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Kathleen Allegrone for reas
ons 1.4(b) and (d).
(C) On March 19, Pol M/C met with French Presidency Strategic
Affairs Advisor Francois Richier to deliver reftel demarche
against premature downsizing of troops in the KFOR mission.
Richier responded that French government analyses showed that
Kosovo is now more stable and, as such, the situation no
longer justifies maintaining such a large presence on the
ground. He recalled that PM Fillon had previewed this
possibility in his speech to French parliamentarians when
they reviewed overseas deployments (reported Paris Points).
He noted that historically there is a tendency to leave
troops deployed in areas that have stabilized even if they
are more urgently needed elsewhere, specifically mentioning
the case of the French deployments in Cote d'Ivoire. Richier
felt that there are currently other greater needs for some of
the KFOR troops and added that if the situation were to
change, French troops could always return. Finally, he
observed that there may be some bureaucrats at NATO who do
not want to reduce the KFOR presence for institutional
reasons pertaining more to maintaining a higher profile and
preventing the diversion of KFOR's resources elsewhere. In
reponse, Pol M/C urged that France engage in extensive
consultations with NATO before any decision is taken and
emphasized that U.S. analysis of the situation in Kosovo is
that it remains fragile. Richier acknowledged that our
respective experts may have reached differing assessments and
promised to look further into the matter.
PEKALA
SIPDIS
EUR/RPM CHRIS DAVY AND EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2019
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR NATO FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE ON DOWNSIZING KFOR
REF: STATE 26179
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Kathleen Allegrone for reas
ons 1.4(b) and (d).
(C) On March 19, Pol M/C met with French Presidency Strategic
Affairs Advisor Francois Richier to deliver reftel demarche
against premature downsizing of troops in the KFOR mission.
Richier responded that French government analyses showed that
Kosovo is now more stable and, as such, the situation no
longer justifies maintaining such a large presence on the
ground. He recalled that PM Fillon had previewed this
possibility in his speech to French parliamentarians when
they reviewed overseas deployments (reported Paris Points).
He noted that historically there is a tendency to leave
troops deployed in areas that have stabilized even if they
are more urgently needed elsewhere, specifically mentioning
the case of the French deployments in Cote d'Ivoire. Richier
felt that there are currently other greater needs for some of
the KFOR troops and added that if the situation were to
change, French troops could always return. Finally, he
observed that there may be some bureaucrats at NATO who do
not want to reduce the KFOR presence for institutional
reasons pertaining more to maintaining a higher profile and
preventing the diversion of KFOR's resources elsewhere. In
reponse, Pol M/C urged that France engage in extensive
consultations with NATO before any decision is taken and
emphasized that U.S. analysis of the situation in Kosovo is
that it remains fragile. Richier acknowledged that our
respective experts may have reached differing assessments and
promised to look further into the matter.
PEKALA